VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Vice Adm. Brian Brown, commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR), addressed Information Warfare Officer Intermediate Course (IWOIC) students at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach for the final time, April 29, ahead of his retirement from 35 years of naval service later this year.

Brown played an instrumental role in the development of this two-week course that focuses on the integrated application of information warfare (IW) at the operational and tactical levels of war.

A unique aspect of this course is the ability for students to interact with numerous senior-ranking leaders within the IW community to discuss matters pertaining to current and future initiatives, problem sets, and the way forward for the community and fleet.

“Our community’s value in delivering battle-minded warfighters and capabilities to the high-end fight is recognized. This course is a critical component of that process,” said Brown. “Since the current Great Power Competition is in more of a cognitive framework than a kinetic one, our advantage is the IW leaders who are integral to all plans and operations.”

Brown discussed how the nature of warfare and strategy during the Cold War has changed since his commission in 1986, and how the IW community continues to evolve to meet the challenges of today.

Focusing on the three primary functionalities of the community – Battle Space Awareness, Assured Command and Control, and Integrated Fires – Brown stressed the importance of 'Man, Train and Equip' – the crux of NAVIFOR's mission statement. He touched on manning current enlisted and officer ranks, developing training to meet the technological and knowledge of today, and equipping personnel with systems and assets that enable the warfighters to perform at the top level.

Brown also highlighted the urgency to deliver to the United States the Navy it needs today by becoming more lethal, agile, and retaining a high level of readiness.

“As IWC leaders, it will be necessary to remain engaged in the current mission sets as well as look to the future and prepare as best we can in the information domain as possible,” said Brown.

“We are very fortunate to have the opportunity for our students to engage with the IWC senior leadership to not only discuss how the community plays a role in the fleet today, but how it will continue to evolve in the years to come,” stated IWTC Virginia Beach Commanding Officer Cmdr. James Brennan. "IWOIC students are the leaders of tomorrow, and by bringing them back to the schoolhouse at the midpoint of their careers is a great way to reestablish their foundation as IW officers. This course gives them the required tools to succeed down the road,”

IWTC Virginia Beach currently offers 59 courses of instruction in information technology, cryptology, and intelligence with an instructor and support staff of 278 military, civilian, and contract members who train over 6,600 students every year at five training sites in the Hampton Roads area. It is one of four school houses for Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) and also oversees learning sites at Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut to continue aligning information warfare community training.

With four schoolhouse commands, a detachment, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT trains approximately 26,000 students every year, delivering trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.

For more news from the Center for Information Warfare Training domain, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/CIWT, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.